Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 08-05-16

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM confers with ministers on social welfare spending, market conditions

[02] PASOK calls on government to drive down prices

[03] Interview: PASOK parliamentary spokesman Christos Papoutsis

[04] KKE leader Papariga addresses rally in Syntagma Square

[05] Eurojust bill, cooperation memoranda ratified by parliament

[06] House of Representatives subcommittee hearing on US Visa Waiver Program

[07] Signatories express solidarity with Palestinians

[08] Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visits Larissa

[09] Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos awarded by Wilson Institute

[10] Chinese Embassy thanks Greece for pledge of disaster aid

[11] Bill on telephone confidentiality tabled in Parliament

[12] ENAE conference on administrative reform

[13] Greece and Principality of Monaco to establish diplomatic relations

[14] Roussopoulos: OTE deal reflects success of government policy

[15] Truck owners end strike, following tanker truckers' lead

[16] Appeals prosecutor wants trade unionists charged over power cuts

[17] Greece ranked 42nd in 2008 world competitiveness list

[18] Event on environment held in Athens

[19] Deputy Ag minister Kiltidis in Sweden

[20] Attica region hotel owners warn of declining tourist inflow

[21] National Bank's shareholders approve dividend re-investment plan

[22] Deputy DM, Athens mayor inaugurate defence exhibition

[23] Greek inflation rate unchanged at 4.4% in April, Eurostat

[24] Greek economy grew by 3.6 pct in Q1

[25] Italian fashion and design event

[26] Greek stocks end 0.56 pct lower

[27] ADEX closing report

[28] Greek bond market closing report

[29] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

[30] Queen Sophia of Spain, tourism minister visit Zakynthos

[31] Benaki Museum honors the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art

[32] Avant-Garde Film Festival in Athens

[33] 'Children of the Iranian Revolution' exhibition by Greek journalist opens in Washington D.C.

[34] Senior judges honored in special ceremony

[35] Women a tiny minority of university staff, survey finds

[36] Huge stash of contraband cigarettes found aboard distressed Sierra Leone-flagged motorship

[37] Former magistrate denies accepting bribes

[38] Thessaloniki mayor promises to send embezzler to jail

[39] Three killed in drive-by shooting

[40] Guards of antiquity sites suspend their strike

[41] Mostly fair on Friday

[42] House Speaker meets EP High Level Group for relations with T/C

[43] G/c and T/c parties urge EU to support new Cyprus process Politics

[01] PM confers with ministers on social welfare spending, market conditions

Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis stated afterwards that a decision was reached to form a ministerial committee to coordinate action relating to funding for health, welfare and social security policies, in which the three ministries are involved, part of an effort to boost transparency, efficiency and control spending.

Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos stated that the government is implementing a reform policy to make the National Health System (ESY) more efficient, stressing that corruption will be better combated, while pointing out that this takes time and determination.

He added that a total of 6,500 hospital personnel have already been hired while an additional 6,000 will be hired by the end of September.

Employment and Social Protection Minister Fanny Palli-Petralia said the decision to form a ministerial committee to coordinate financial and management issues in the sector of health was very significant; pointing out that the goal is better and quality healthcare for taxpayers.

During a separate meeting with Development Minister Christos Folias and Deputy Minister George Vlachos, the prime minister was briefed on the ministry's measures to fight cost-of-living increases as well as instances of profiteering or poor competition in local markets.

Among others, Folias said he backs a consumers' boycott announced for Thursday, while he said the government would not shudder from closing down an import firm found liable for funnelling adulterated goods onto the market, in answer to a question over the recent discovery of petroleum by-products in cooking oil (sun flower seed) imported from the Ukraine.

He added that the name of the specific firm will be announced in due course.

[02] PASOK calls on government to drive down prices

According to PASOK's official, the price increases were a result of lawlessness, greed and a "naive view that the market can regulate itself". He pointed out that retail prices had soared from 88 percent of the European average to 98 percent of the European average in the last four years, while structural inflation was 30 percent higher in Greece than the rest of the Euro zone.

Commenting on a scandal concerning the sale of sunflower oil laced with petrochemical lubricants on the Greek market, Chrysohoidis alleged that Greeks had for the past week been witnesses to "an operation to cover-up, mislead and silence this new major food crisis".

He said the head of the Hellenic Food Authority EFET, during his appearance before Parliament's Production and Trade Committee on Thursday, had admitted the chaos and the inability of state machinery to handle this serious crisis.

"EFET's president admitted that there is absolute confusion regarding the responsibilities of each monitoring authority, at the same time unleashing direct accusations against the other bodies involved, specifically the agricultural development ministry and the General Chemical State Laboratory, that they did not carry out the necessary tests," he said.

He also stressed that 22 days after French authorities first notified Greece of the problem, no one could officially say whether all the quantities of adulterated oil had been seized and withdrawn from the market.

[03] Interview: PASOK parliamentary spokesman Christos Papoutsis

He said that the censure motion against the government tabled by PASOK was in response to the government policies, and accused it of indifference to the reactions of society and the opposition.

Referring to the high prices, he said that the government had proved unable to deal with the problem and accused it of "turning the market into a paradise for profiteers".

The need for higher minimum wages, pensions and unemployment benefits is evident to preserve the people's purchasing power, while more effective monitoring mechanisms should be put into effect to avert well-orchestrated market practices and oligopoly, Papoutsis continued.

On the opinion polls, he said that they are used to sustain the society's tolerance toward the Karamanlis government, while on the constitutional revision he commented that those participating in the debate were providing a life jacket to the government.

On the government's apparent resilience despite the problems, Papoutsis said that all opinion polls conducted show the ruling New Democracy party's inability to handle power, stressing that the reality is that ND enjoys a slight majority in Parliament while being a clear minority within society.

He said that PASOK's strength is rooted in its relation with society and the personal relation between its leadership and the people, adding that it projects the vision of a fair society and environmentally friendly development, boosting Greece's prestige and clout within the European Union.

On the calls for cooperation directed to Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA), he said that PASOK appeals to all creative powers that want the country strong with a dynamic showing on the European and international scenes and back a new social and financial structure based on justice and solidarity.

[04] KKE leader Papariga addresses rally in Syntagma Square

Papariga predicted that the situation "will worsen further in Europe, Greece and the region because imperialism is becoming more and more dangerous and reactionary."

She added that climatic worsening and the problem of food are products of imperialist policy and of the capitalist path of development and stressed that "sooner or later the country's working class, the largest part of working people, will find themselves before the real dilemma of submission or resistance, incorporation or reversal."

Papariga went on to say that KKE calls on working people to "brush aside and turn into a minority all those who, in the name of European unification, competitiveness and renewal, are leading them to bargain what they will be losing."

She also underlined her party's "absolutely negative stance towards class exploitation that is leading to the creation of incalculable wealth and provocative luxury on the one hand and to material and spiritual poverty and insecurity on the other."

Papariga further stressed that "we do not feel at ease for as long as NATO is blessing violations of sovereign rights by the leadership of Turkey, abolishing the borders in the Aegean and not only."

[05] Eurojust bill, cooperation memoranda ratified by parliament

The PASOK MPs voted in favour of the bill both 'in principle' and by-Article, agreeing that its ratification was an EU obligation on the part of Greece, although PASOK rapporteur George Patalotis said the bill could have contained more 'safety-valves' regarding the use of personal data that Greece will be sending to the other EU countries in the framework of the judicial cooperation.

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) parliamentary alliance charged that Eurojust was a mechanism for 'establishing files' on people, 'under the guise of information exchange', leaving a 'wide margin' to the member states but without containing specific provisions regarding the rights of the individual.

Parliament also ratified two draft laws ratifying memoranda of cooperation in the field of technology -- including telecoms and postal services -- with Egypt and Albania, in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, with only the KKE and SYRIZA voting against, objecting to the funding of Greek enterprises undertaking high-risk investments in the framework of that cooperation, while transport and communications minister Costis Hadzidakis replied that Greece had only to gain from the cooperation.

"The goal is to help the weaker states and curb the wave of immigration, given that with the growth that will be crated, an attempt is being made to create jobs for the poor people in those countries," the minister explained.

[06] House of Representatives subcommittee hearing on US Visa Waiver Program

The delay in abolishing the visa requirement for Greek citizens wishing to visit the US was one of the topics discussed on Wednesday during a hearing of the House of Representatives foreign affairs committee's subcommittee on Europe.

The subject of the hearing was "Improving America's Security, Strengthening Transatlantic Relations: An update on the Expansion of the Visa Waiver Program", and the subcommittee heard testimonies by Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Richard Barth (Office of Policy Development), and deputy assistant secretary of state for visa services (Bureau of Consular Affairs) Stephen Edson, while the session was chaired by subcommittee chairman Robert Wexler, with Congressmen Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida), Ted Poe (R-Texas) and Bob Inglis (R-South Carolina) also attending.

Wexler expressed expressed disappointment over the "unacceptable delay" in the process for Greece to join the visa waiver program, stressing that Greece was an important NATO ally and the fact that it meets all the program requirements.

He first stated unequivocal support for the program, which he said was a critically important economic, cultural and diplomatic tool that contributed to US security, and strong support for the US administration's efforts to engage in negotiations with countries that meet the security criteria to join the program, noting that 8 countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, Malta and S. Korea) have signed Memoranda of Understanding with the US, "which is an important step in the process of accession to the visa waiver program.

"Despite the positive movement forward, I cannot hide my disappointment with respect to the Administration's failure to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Greece, an important NATO ally that has met all of the program requirements. It was my understanding last year that Greece was slated to be the first country to join the visa waiver program, and now it seems their application to join the program has been pushed back to the end of the line. This delay is unacceptable, and I urge the Administration to move quickly to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding with Athens," Wexler said.

Bilirakis asked for briefing on the progress in the procedure for Greece and the reason for the delay, while Wexler noted that the Greek government had sent on April 18 a draft Memorandum of Understanding, and also asked to learn about the development of the process.

Replying, Barth noted that the questions were reasonable, and confirmed that Greece fully meets the program criteria, while recalling that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had contacted the Greek ambassador in Washington stating that the US was ready for immediate actions. To that end, Athens had been the first stop on a DHS-led interagency team's tour in Europe, but that the expected negotiation had not been possible. Later, he added, Greece submitted to the US government a draft that differed from the text signed by the other countries.

Asked what he would propose to enable the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Greece in the next 4-6 weeks, Barth said the signing of the same MoU signed by the other countries would facilitate Greece's course, given that there was no other reason obstructing it from joining the Visa Waiver Program.

[07] Signatories express solidarity with Palestinians

A statement, which has already appeared in the international press, begins with a quotation from Edward Said, a noted American professor of Palestinian origin.

The statement was signed by several prominent personalities, including directors Pantelis Voulgaris and Nikos Koundouros, performers Giorgos Dalaras, Demis Roussos and Maria Farandouri, veteran leftist politician and WWII resistance fighter Manolis Glezos and PASOK deputy and former athlete Sofia Sakorafa, among others.

The envoy of the Palestinian self-rule area to Athens, Samir Abu Ghazaleh, expressed the deep gratitude of the Palestinian people to "all the people of culture in Greece and Cyprus" who co-signed the statement.

[08] Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visits Larissa

The Ecumenical Patriarch arrived for a two-day visit on Wednesday and was made honorary citizen of Larisa after receiving the city's Gold Key by its mayor who stressed that the city is welcoming the Head of the Orthodox Church for the first time in 18 centuries of religious history.

A doxology was later held in the presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, 33 Metropolitans, Defense Minister Evangelos Meimarakis and local authorities.

[09] Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos awarded by Wilson Institute

"We are in danger of converting our beautiful planet into a chamber of poisonous gases" for the sake of profit, Vartholomeos said in his speech.

Vartholomeos stressed that "the ecological problem is one of the most serious of contemporary mankind."

[10] Chinese Embassy thanks Greece for pledge of disaster aid

It also gave details of a bank account at the National Bank of Greece where people and non-governmental organisations could deposit private donations of aid (Account holder: Embassy of China in Greece, Account Number: 100/480267-50, IBAN number: GR14 0110 1000 0000 1004 8026 750, SWIFT CODE: ETHNGRAA).

Those interested in provided assistance can contact the embassy at the telephone numbers 210 6783812, 6783816, 6783807 or send a fax to 210 672 3283.

The Embassy announcement said the death toll that hit China last Monday on May 12 has so far claimed 19,500 lives, including hundreds of school children trapped beneath damaged houses, and injured another 102,100. Overall, the disaster has affected a population approaching 10 million, with widespread damage to infrastructure like roads and water supply that creates major difficulties for both survivors and rescuers.

It said that the Chinese government has been mounting all-out rescue and relief efforts, sending a 1,700-member medical rescue team, five tons of bottled water, fresh milk and instant noodles to the affected area. Relief efforts are also being assisted by 50,760 troops and police dispatched to the quake-stricken regions by plane, helicopter, trains, trucks and on foot.

[11] Bill on telephone confidentiality tabled in Parliament

The bill, according to an announcement by the Justice ministry, "aims at protecting the confidentiality of communications, safeguarding and shielding private rights, private life and the personality of man from violations of all kinds, which have now become possible due to the rapid development of technology in this sector."

It also aims at safeguarding their confidentiality of fixed and mobile telephony services and the limits of punity are enlarged regarding the crime of the violation of confidentiality of telephone communication and of verbal conversation.

The bill's 15 articles "restrict in the most technically feasible way the possibility of interventions and the tapping of telephone conversations through fixed and mobile telephony," the announcement added.

[12] ENAE conference on administrative reform

In his address, Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said that the government desires an elected regional local government, with an elected collective agency and president; the strengthening of the competencies of local government with corresponding resources; the support by the state of the elected regional government in view of the 4th Community Support Framework (CSF).

[13] Greece and Principality of Monaco to establish diplomatic relations

Greek ambassador to France Dimitrios Paraskevopoulos and his counterpart from Monaco, Jacques Boisson, signed here on Thursday a joint statement for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Greece and the Principality.

"Monaco and Greece are two Mediterranean countries sharing the same concerns and interests, such as sustainable development, protection of the environment, and particularly tackling sea pollution in the Mediterranean basin," Paraskevopoulos noted during a ceremony held at the embassy of Monaco.

On his part, Jacques Boisson agreed that "new prospects are now being opened for the two countries' cooperation" in these sectors.

Financial News

[14] Roussopoulos: OTE deal reflects success of government policy

"This is a very important development because it proves beyond doubt that foreign institutional investors have confidence in our economy and everything that has happed in the last four years during the government's major effort to boost the Greek economy," Roussopoulos said.

Replying to questions on whether the deal was cause for celebration - and whether the Greek tax-payer had any cause to celebrate - Roussopoulos said that the agreement would prove beneficial for both citizens and the state sector and that it was achieved after a four-year effort to put OTE "back on its feet" and make it an attractive prospect.

This drive by OTE CEO Panagiotis Vourloumis and the government to reform the phone utility, which had been strongly criticized by some quarters, had led a major European company based in Germany to buy the 3 percent sold by the Greek government, he noted.

"If all this had not happened, there would be no chance that we would now have the participation of a big foreign company that strengthens [OTE], the national economy and the Greek citizen," the spokesman added.

Responding to a front-page story by the newspaper "Ta Nea" regarding details of the deal and the rights reserved by the government, Roussopoulos underlined that the Greek side had retained significant veto powers on a series of issues concerning the utility's strategic choices for its future.

"As a result, we are talking about management being carried out with the collaboration of the two sides and, in any case, certainly with the Greek side keeping the right to stop any of the major decisions that the manager in charge of day-to-day management may wish to take," he stressed.

Roussopoulos also clarified that the agreement specifically spelled out the issues on which the Greek state could raise a veto and stressed that it was not "undiscriminating" or "without terms".

The spokesman additionally pointed to the benefits for ordinary consumers and Greeks, noting that the phone utility's capabilities would multiply as part of a large European business group.

He further pointed out that with 66 percent of OTE already sold on the private market, it would have been vulnerable to a hostile takeover by two or three large funds that would have led to situations that would be hard to control.

Questioned about an option stipulated in the agreement, under which the government will have the right to sell more of its shares in OTE at a set price within a given time period, Roussopoulos said the government ruled out reducing its share to these percentages and said that any future government should also move along these lines.

Specifically, the deal gives the state the right to sell 5 percent of its stake in OTE at a minimum price of 27.5 euros per share for one year, while another clause allows the state to sell another 10 percent by 2011. It also bars DT from either acquiring or selling OTE shares on the market until 2011.

The spokesman pointed out that European regulations and any problems that may arise with these will also have to be taken into account.

Asked whether consumers would benefit in their pockets from the lowering of OTE rates, Roussopoulos replied that "competition is definitely beneficial".

PASOK spokesman on OTE issue

Main opposition PASOK party spokesman George Papaconstantinou, referring on Thursday to the sale of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE), said that the government "is putting an end to the Organization's autonomous development course.

"With the agreement on OTE, the New Democracy (ND) party government is putting an end to the 60-year autonomous development course of the Organization. It is a successful course that offered many services to our country and to the Greek citizens, as well as the possibility of our country exercising an extroversive economic policy in the entire Balkan region," the spokesman said.

"In practice, ND is waiving the responsibilities and the obligation of the state to contribute to the development of advanced electronic communications in the country. Its responsibilities are great and historic. We shall try in every way to avert the ratification of this agreement, starting with the question we put to the prime minister for tomorrow (Friday) and continuing with the discussion in Parliament on the ratification of the agreement," he added.

Papaconstantinou further said that PASOK will exhaust "every institutional possibility of control, including the probing of the existence of breach of faith, as the President of PASOK has stated and as tomorrow's government we have the obligation of exhausting every possibility for public control to return."

Strikes held in Athens and Thessaloniki

In opposition to the sale of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) to Deutsche Telekom (DT), the Greek Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) declared a 24-hour strike on Thursday at OTE, the Public Power Corporation (PPC), the Greek Post Office, Olympic Airlines, the ports and the Athens-Piraeus Water Supply Organization (EYDAP).

Trade unionists of the Confederation and of the Public Utilities (DEKO), held a rally at Athens' Kaningos Square. A similar rally was held in front of Venizelos Statue in Thessaloniki, Macedonia.

At the same time, the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) held a nationwide four-hour work stoppage from 11 a.m. to the end of the shift, in the public sector in demand of salary increases.

ADEDY held its rally at Athens' Korai Square. A similar rally was held in front of Venizelos Statue in Thessaloniki.

The Bank Workers Organization (OTOE) held a 24-hour strike at 11 banks, in response to the refusal of the bankers to negotiate for the signing of a collective labour agreement in banks.

[15] Truck owners end strike, following tanker truckers' lead

A meeting of the truck owners' association on Thursday discussed two proposals, one to continue the strike and another calling for its end, with the second proposal eventually prevailing. Starting on Thursday evening, therefore, trucks parked by the side of national highways began to gradually withdraw and they will begin working again on Thursday night.

Shortages in basic goods that have already become apparent are expected to be fully corrected by Saturday.

Petrol stations are already operating normally on Thursday after fuel trucks returned to work late on Wednesday and restocked empty fuel tanks.

Commenting on the end of the strike, meanwhile, main opposition PASOK's spokesman on transport issues Nikos Sifounakis warned the government not to do away with measures restricting use of national highways and tunnels by heavy goods vehicles at the weekends.

He stressed that PASOK had imposed these restrictions to cut down on the very large number of traffic accidents, many of them lethal, involving trucks and goods vehicles on the highways and said that doing away with the measures would seriously compromise road safety.

[16] Appeals prosecutor wants trade unionists charged over power cuts

He recommended that the union leadership face criminal charges of creating a public emergency and misdemeanor charges of obstructing the operation of a public utility.

The recommendation is at odds with that made by First-instance court public prosecutor Panagiotis Poulios, who had called for the case against both the PPC's union and management to be dropped.

The senior prosecutor agreed with Poulios' order to drop charges against PPC's management.

[17] Greece ranked 42nd in 2008 world competitiveness list

The ranking reflects economic performance, government and corporate efficiency and infrastructure. According to IMD's report, Greek fell two places to rank 48th in the economic performance category, while in the government efficiency category it lost 16 places to rank 46th.

In the corporate efficiency category, Greece lost seven places (42nd), while in the infrastructure category fell one place to rank 35th.

The United States, Singapore and Hong-Kong were the top three countries in the world competitiveness list for 2008.

[18] Event on environment held in Athens

Kalafatis said that "one of the main strategic targets of the new operational programme, of EPAN 2, for the next programmed period until 2013 is strengthening the attractiveness of Greece as a place for the development of business activity, with respect for the environment and sustainability. Until yesterday, the targets that we achieved were high. As of today, the bar is going even higher. Our aim is even better results."

The deputy development minister underlined that "the government, from the very beginning, has placed small and medium-size entrepreneurship at the peak of the priorities of development and today, the citizens who are interested in creating their own business have lower tax rates and simpler procedures. The activity of the small and medium-size enterprises is supported by the development law and is funded to a greater degree by the European Union programmes."

[19] Deputy Ag minister Kiltidis in Sweden

[20] Attica region hotel owners warn of declining tourist inflow

According to the association, the messages coming so far from all tourist markets are discouraging. The tourist inflow from the United States is expected to drop by as much as 30 percent, while markets such as Germany, Britain and France were also following a downward course.

A likely increase is expected from certain unpredictable markets whose tourist behavior is not affected by economic factors such as Russia, Bulgaria, etc.

[21] National Bank's shareholders approve dividend re-investment plan

Under the plan, National Bank's shareholders will receive four new shares for every 100 existing shares of the bank, instead of receiving additional dividend. The shareholders' meeting also approved an 1.5 billion euros share capital increase plan with the issuance of preference shares to be offered to private investors in the United States or other foreign markets.

[22] Deputy DM, Athens mayor inaugurate defence exhibition

Plakiotakis met on the sidelines of the exhibition with the Defence Industry Minister of Azerbaijan Jamalov Yavar Talib Oglu. During their discussion, both officials underlined the possibilities of widening bilateral defence cooperation.

[23] Greek inflation rate unchanged at 4.4% in April, Eurostat

Greek inflation was 4.4 percent in April, unchanged from March, Eurostat said on Thursday. The EU executive's statistics agency, in a report, said the inflation rate eased to 3.3 percent in April, from 3.6 pct in March, but was significantly up compared with an 1.9 pct rate in April 2007. In the EU-27, the inflation rate also eased to 3.6 pct, from 3.8 pct, but was up from 2.2 pct in April 2007. The Netherlands (1.7 pct), Portugal (2.5 pct) and Germany (2.6 pct) recorded the lowest annual inflation rates, while Latvia (17.4 pct), Bulgaria (13.4 pct) and Lithuania (11.9 pct) the highest rates.

[24] Greek economy grew by 3.6 pct in Q1

The national statistics service, in a report, attributed the growth of the Gross Domestic Product to an 1.6 percent increase in final demand of the economy, despite an 1.0 percent decline in investments over the same period.

NSS said exports grew 0.9 pct in the January-March period, compared with the same period last year, contributing 0.2 percentage points to the growth of final demand, while imports fell 4.6 pct. Spending on final consumption rose 2.5 percent, contributing 1.6 percentage points to the growth of final demand of the economy.

[25] Italian fashion and design event

Two impressive red Ferraris welcomed at the entrance over 400 guests who had the opportunity of admiring an exhibition of selected high level Italian products that are characterized by quality, beauty, manufacturing excellence and superior materials that determine the "Stile Italiano."

Eight Italian companies participated in the event with their representatives in Greece from the sector of fashion, accessories and decorating, that presented their most recent creations. The presentation took place with models and dancers who provided a brief performance with the accompaniment of a 10-member orchestra.

According to an Italian embassy press release, the Italian fashion sector is achieving a continuous upward course in the Greek market and in 2007 it presented a growth rate exceeding 4 percent, compared to the previous year. The total value of Italian exports for the same period surpassed 700 million euros.

[26] Greek stocks end 0.56 pct lower

Most sectors moved lower, with the Telecommunications (7.76 pct), Media (2.92 pct) and Technology (2.69 pct) suffering the heaviest percentage losses of the day, while Financial Services (2.24 pct), Healthcare (1.35 pct) and Oil (1.23 pct) scored gains.

The Big Cap index rose 0.11 pct, the Mid Cap index ended 0.47 pct lower and the Small Cap index eased 0.68 pct. Forthnet (9.86 pct), Iderfish (9.09 pct) and Klonatex (8.33 pct) were top losers, while VIS (6.76 pct), Diekat (6.45 pct) and Betanet (5.06 pct) were top gainers.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 142 to 85 with another 62 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: -2.27%

Industrials: -0.72%

Commercial: -0.40%

Construction: -0.99%

Media: -2.92%

Oil & Gas: +1.23%

Personal & Household: -0.66%

Raw Materials: -1.45%

Travel & Leisure: +0.28%

Technology: -2.69%

Telecoms: -7.75%

Banks: +1.12%

Food & Beverages: -0.85%

Health: +1.35%

Utilities: -1.86%

Chemicals: -0.26%

Financial Services: +2.24%

The stocks with the highest turnover were OTE, National Bank, Piraeus Bank and EFG Eurobank Ergasias.

Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index closed in euros as follows:

Alpha Bank: 22.98

ATEbank: 2.75

Public Power Corp (PPC): 25.60

HBC Coca Cola: 29.08

Hellenic Petroleum: 10.54

National Bank of Greece: 36.50

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 18.68

Intralot: 12.30

OPAP: 25.04

OTE: 18.82

Piraeus Bank: 22.80

Bank of Cyprus: 9.20

Marfin Popular Bank: 6.00

[27] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contract on the Big Cap index totaled 8,163 contracts worth 90.262 million euros, with 29,960 open positions in the market, while on the Mid Cap index volume was 256 contracts worth 6.441 million euros, with 276 open positions.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 17,112 contracts worth 28.074 million euros, with investment interest focusing on OTE's contracts (6,012), followed by Marfin Investment Group (703), National Bank (1,926), Alpha Bank (1,705), Marfin Popular Bank (1,355) and ATEbank (1,299).

[28] Greek bond market closing report

In the interbank market, interest rates were mixed. The 12-month Euribor rate was 4.98 pct from 4.97 pct on Wednesday, the six-month rate eased to 4.865 pct from 4.89 pct, the three-month rate was 4.86 pct and the one-month rate rose to 4.57 pct from 4.38 pct.

[29] Foreign Exchange Rates - Friday

U.S. dollar 1.559

Pound sterling 0.803

Danish kroner 7.522

Swedish kroner 9.396

Japanese yen 163.91

Swiss franc 1.647

Norwegian kroner 7.921

Canadian dollar 1.562

Australian dollar 1.667

General News

[30] Queen Sophia of Spain, tourism minister visit Zakynthos

National Marine Park biologists on the island of Zakynthos placed JPS transmitters on the turtles to enable them to monitor their course, stops and their lives in the sea in general.

The transmitters were placed in the framework of the "Kareta Odyssey" programme, according to which 10 transmitters sponsored by the National Bank of Greece will be attached to an equal number of sea turtles. After the transmitters were put in place, the two turtles were set free to experience their own "Odyssey" in the Mediterranean.

Speaking during the ensuing event, Spiliotopoulos said that it is an environmental move of great significance, since it is a considerable step for research and the study of the sea turtle considering, as he added, that 61 percent of the species selects the Laganas Gulf for reproduction.

The minister further said that the protection of the sea turtle shows Greece's will for tourist development with an ecological and environmental conscience.

[31] Benaki Museum honors the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art

The honored museum's permanent collections feature 1,800 works of art, all coming from donations, while it has organized a total of 195 exhibitions of Greek and foreign artists, sponsored 85 publications and hosted 183 parallel events, workshops and exhibition tours.

The creation of the museum in the 1970s was the idea of art collector Alexandros Iolas who donated his collection of 30 works by internationally acclaimed artists.

[32] Avant-Garde Film Festival in Athens

The festival opened Wednesday with an exhibition of works by innovative Austrian artist Valie Export at the Athens School of Fine Arts.

The film festival is a joint project of the Municipality of Athens, the Embassy of Austria, the Athens School of Fine Arts, the Greek Film Archive and the Goethe Institute.

[33] 'Children of the Iranian Revolution' exhibition by Greek journalist opens in Washington D.C.

According to Athanasiadis, who lived, worked as a foreign correspondent and studied in Iran between 2004-2007, the exhibition aims to "take to the focus off Iran's politicians and realign it squarely on its people."

"For three years I lived and travelled in Iran, and � achieved extraordinary access in the social undergrounds that define this up-and-coming generation of Iranians. During this time, I realized they are proving one of the most electrifying facilitators of change in the country's recent history," Athanasiadis said, adding: "But the third generation's deeds are woefully under-reported by Western journalists who lack the time and space in their media coupled with a lack of access from the side of the Iranian government to properly chronicle this generation's development."

A native of Greece, Athanasiadis is currently a Fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. He is an Alexander S. Onassis Foundation scholar.

[34] Senior judges honored in special ceremony

Referring to the characteristics Justice should have to reflect the values of contemporary society, the foreign minister stated that it will have to be independent, impartial and relentless with those who violate the law and undermine its prestige while, at the same time, displaying sensitivity, leniency and humanity.

Referring to the special role of the judicial power in the unobstructed operation of democracy, she underlined that it is closely linked with democracy, stating characteristically that when Justice is undermined, democracy erodes.

[35] Women a tiny minority of university staff, survey finds

Entitled "Women's careers in Education", the survey showed that women academics hold just 28 percent of positions in Greek universities, both in teaching and research jobs. The data was obtained from the personnel records of the 21 universities in the country for the academic years 2004-2005.

These percentages fall even lower rising up the hierarchy of the education system, with 60 percent of women academics employed as junior lecturers, 26 percent as assistant professors and only 14 percent achieving the highest rank of professor in all academic fields.

Even those that managed to rise up the academic hierarchy found that their jobs conflicted with their more traditional roles as wives and mothers, which placed additional demands on their time compared with male colleagues, it added.

[36] Huge stash of contraband cigarettes found aboard distressed Sierra Leone-flagged motorship

A total of 36,681 kilos of contraband cigarettes were found in the Viking 1's hold by port officials during an inspection of the motorship, which was towed to safety on Tuesday after being reported as sailing adrift in international waters 10 nautical miles northwest of Ikaria island, with a five-member crew of Ukrainian nationals aboard.

The motorship was sailing from Famagusta, destined for the Ukraine.

The Ukrainian captain of the vessel said the cigarettes had been loaded in Famagusta, but failed to explain why the necessary legal documents were lacking, resulting in his arrest and that of the other four crew members.

Port authorities in Greece confiscated a total of 44,758,098 contraband cigarettes between early 1988 and end-2007, with evaded taxes and duties running in the tens of millions of euros.

[37] Former magistrate denies accepting bribes

She was the fifth of nine suspects charged in connection with a widespread judicial corruption case that has addressed the court.

The former justice claimed that she had been targeted for "PR reasons" by the previous leadership of the justice ministry, which was trying to "create a climate of fear among judges in order to manipulate justice".

Explaining her flight to Paris as a fugitive from justice, meanwhile, she said she "became afraid when a warrant for her arrest was issued before she was called to present her case". She also asserted that she was charged because she was magistrate in a case involving the stock market and had "made herself a target through an extramarital affair with the wrong person at the wrong time".

[38] Thessaloniki mayor promises to send embezzler to jail

He was referring to revelations that a municipal employee had embezzled some 22.5 million euros from the local authority's coffers.

The mayor promised "lightning-fast action" to ensure that the proper penalties were imposed by Greek justice in this and every other case where laws were flouted.

[39] Three killed in drive-by shooting

Unidentified persons driving by in a car opened fire against three foreign nationals outside a cafe, fatally wounding them.

Attica security police were investigating the incident.

[40] Guards of antiquity sites suspend their strike

Antiquity sites will remain open on Sunday, which coincides with International Museums Day.

The antiquity guards were initially to strike on Sunday.

Weather forecast

[41] Mostly fair on Friday

Cyprus Affairs

[42] House Speaker meets EP High Level Group for relations with T/C

President of the House of Representatives Marios Karoyian held a meeting Thursday with the European Parliament's high-level contact group for relations with the Turkish Cypriot community.

During the meeting, Karoyian informed the MEPs on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue and the new process, which began in April aiming at reunifying the island, one third of which is occupied since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

''I reiterated our strong wish to continue being constructive, productive and substantive for reaching progress at the working teams that would allow, if and when there is such progress, to start negotiations between President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader with a view to reunify Cyprus and its people", he said.

The House Speaker said that head of the EP Group, Francoise Grossetete spoke about the European Parliament's expectation and hope that the reunification of Cyprus is achieved soon.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Karoyian said that "our goal is to reach a solution based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation and political equality as interpreted by the UN. This is the basis of the negotiations and this is the will of the international community".

But Karoyian said that the Turkish side wishes to change the basis of the negotiations and for this reason it refers to "virgin birth of the Cypriot state, to two religions, two communities, two peoples, two entities".

He said that the Cypriot President, Demetris Christofias, has asked to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat on May 23rd, "in an attempt to overcome problems so that the working groups and the technical committees can become productive, something, which is very important for the commencement of substantive negotiations between the leaders".

In the event of no progress, he added, "there is no room for proceeding with negotiations and this is the clear position of President Christofias and our side".

Asked about the Lisbon Treaty and when the House of Representatives will begin a discussion on it, Karoyian said that no date has been set yet for the debate.

"The Parliament would like to contribute to the information of the Cypriot citizen regarding the Treaty's content and then we can proceed with the voting", he concluded.

[43] G/c and T/c parties urge EU to support new Cyprus process

The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties called on the European Union to do its utmost to support the new process which began in April with the aim to reunify Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

They also expressed the wish that the current improved climate and momentum be maintained by the political leaderships.

The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties met Thursday at Ledra Palace for their regular meeting organized by the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Nicosia.

According to their joint communique "the parties present put forward their assessment of the current situation and expressed the wish that the current improved climate and momentum be maintained by the political leaderships avoiding negative public statements".

"They also called on the European Union to do its utmost to support the negotiation process".

During the meeting, also attended by the members of the High Level Contact Group for Relations with the Turkish Cypriot Community of the

European Parliament, they expressed opinions on the subject ''How do you see the current situation on the island and the possibility of a successful solution arising from the negotiations on a comprehensive settlement which are about to be started''.

In statements after the meeting, Greek Cypriot politicians said that the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot parties interpret in a different way the 21st March 2008 Agreement, which was reached, in the presence of then UN Secretary General's Special Representative in Cyprus Michael Moller, between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus.

According to the Agreement of 21st March, "in taking full responsibility for the conduct of future negotiations, the leaders have also agreed to meet three months from now to review the work of the working groups and technical committees, and using their results, to start full-fledged negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations".

Spokesman of the left-wing AKEL ruling party, Antros Kyprianou, said that the Greek Cypriot side wishes for progress to be achieved at the bicommunal working teams and technical committees before substantive negotiations begin between the leaders, so that negotiations yield results.

In his statements, Deputy Chairman of DISY right-wing opposition party Averof Neofytou said that his party is monitoring developments with cautious optimism.

"The Cypriot President has many times in the past stressed that important work and progress should be achieved at the bicommunal teams before negotiations begin", he said.

President of the Social Democrats Movement EDEK Yiannakis Omirou said that the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot parties which met at

Ledra Palace had different interpretations as regards the 21 of March Agreement and in particular, whether the negotiations between the leaders should begin at the end of the three months work of the bicommunal teams.

"It is obvious that the Turkish Cypriot leadership has a different interpretation of the 21 March Agreement. They believe that the Agreement provides for the commencement of full-fledged negotiations by the end of the three months, which I find baseless", he said.

Omirou urged the UN to "take a clear position on the issue and offer its good services opening the way for full fledged negotiations through an adequate negotiating base".

The next regular meeting of the leaders and the representatives of the political parties will be held on the 11th of June, 2008.

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